JP5440425B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having display means capable of displaying a plurality of languages and capable of displaying a setting status or the like in an arbitrary language.

  In recent years, printing apparatuses have been used in various language spheres, and various inventions have been made so that users can use them without inconvenience in these language spheres. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an invention related to a tape printer. The tape printer described in Patent Document 1 displays a message for instructing screen display and operation contents in a user's arbitrary language (for example, the user's native language) in order to support use in various language areas. Is configured to do. In addition, the tape printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 can input a character string according to the language if an arbitrary language is set. By printing the character string, the characters expressed in the language desired by the user are printed. The rows can be printed on tape.

JP-A-8-108602

  Here, the printing result by the printing apparatus may be used for communication with users in other languages. In this case, a user in a certain language area needs to create a print result that expresses his intention in the language of another language area. In general, a user in a certain language area can freely operate a language related to the language area (for example, a native language), but often cannot sufficiently operate a language related to another language area.

  Here, in the case of the tape printer described in Patent Document 1, the language used for function display and messages can be set from a plurality of languages to a user-desired language (for example, a native language). Therefore, it is possible for the user who uses various native languages to operate the tape printer without a sense of incongruity. In the tape printer described in Patent Document 1, a character string based on the language can be input by setting the language desired by the user (for example, a language related to another language area). However, in the tape printing apparatus, unless the user understands a language related to another language area, it is not possible to obtain a print result expressing the user's desired intention.

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a display unit capable of displaying a plurality of languages and capable of displaying a setting status or the like in an arbitrary language, and provides a printing result expressing a user's intention in a language related to another language area. Provided is a printing apparatus with improved convenience when performing the process.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints on a recording medium; and a display unit that can display a plurality of types of languages. The default print data storage means for storing a plurality of default print data including the edited message for each language, and the contents indicated by the image based on the default print data for each of the plurality of types of languages are expressed in the language A content data storage unit that stores content data in association with the content of the image, and a first language that selects and sets one language used for display of the display unit as the first language from the plurality of types of languages When selecting the default print data as a print target by the selection unit and the printing unit, one language used for expressing a message included in the default print data is a second language. A second language selecting means for selecting and setting, and an image based on default print data including a message expressed in the second language in an uneditable manner when the second language is selected by the second language selecting means, A display screen corresponding to the content of the image based on the default print data and including a content display based on the content data expressed in the first language selected by the first language selection unit. And a selection control unit that selects, when the preview screen is displayed on the display unit, default print data related to the preview screen as a print target by the printing unit. To do.

  When providing the print result based on the default print data, the printing apparatus selects the first language, and further displays the preview screen when the second language is selected, and the selection unit displays the preview screen. Such default print data is set as a print target. Here, on the preview screen, an image based on the default print data including a message expressed in the second language that cannot be edited and a content display expressing the content of the image based on the default print data in the first language are displayed. Displayed on the display means. Here, the first language is one language used for display of the display unit from the plurality of types of languages that can be displayed by the display unit. Therefore, the first language can be set to a language (for example, a native language) from which a user can understand the meaning among a plurality of types of languages. The second language is a language used for expressing the message in the default print data regardless of whether or not the first language can be selected. Therefore, as the second language, a desired language can be set regardless of whether or not the user can understand the meaning. For example, a language belonging to another language area other than the user's native language is set. sell. Here, the printing apparatus displays the content of the image based on the default print data on the preview screen in the first language by displaying the content of the preview screen. Therefore, according to the printing apparatus, the user can surely grasp the content of the image based on the default print data on the preview screen, and can grasp the outline of the print result based on the default print data based on the image related to the preview screen. can do. Therefore, according to the printing apparatus, when the default print data including the message related to the second language in which the meaning content is difficult to grasp is set as the print target, the user is expressed in the first language capable of grasping the meaning. The content display can be visually recognized. In other words, the printing apparatus can select default print data including a message that surely reflects the user's intention, and can improve convenience when creating a print result for another language area. it can.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the predetermined print data is image data including a message expressed in one language in an uneditable manner. .

  In the printing apparatus, the default print data is image data including a message expressed in one language in an uneditable manner. That is, the message related to the default print data does not have to be a language that can be displayed by the display means (that is, a language in which a dedicated font does not exist in the printing apparatus), and can be expressed in various languages. In the printing apparatus, since the content of the default print data is displayed in the first language on the preview screen, the user can select the default print data desired by the user according to the content display. Convenience when creating a printed product for a language area can be improved.

  The printing apparatus according to claim 3 is the printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second language selection means is a language that can be selected as the second language based on a user operation. And setting means for setting one language currently selected as the second language as the second language, and setting the one language selected as the second language based on a user operation to the second language. And a target changing unit for changing to another language included in the selectable language, and when the second language selecting unit starts selecting the second language, the first language selecting unit selects the second language. It has the selection control means which makes the 1st language made into the selection object which concerns on the said 2nd language.

  In the printing apparatus, the second language selecting unit includes a setting unit and a target changing unit. Then, when the second language selection unit starts selecting the second language, the printing apparatus selects the first language selected by the first language selection unit by the selection control unit as the second language. To be selected. As described above, the first language can be set to a language (for example, a native language) in which the user can understand the meaning among a plurality of types of languages. That is, in the printing apparatus, when the second language selection unit starts selecting the second language, the first language that is normally estimated to be the most frequently used is selected as the selection target related to the second language. Therefore, the convenience of the user when selecting the second language can be improved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the printing unit expresses a message related to the default print data, and is selected by the printing unit for each language that can be selected as the second language. Counting means for counting the number of times the predetermined print data has been printed, and when the selection object according to the second language is changed by the object changing means based on a user operation, the counting means There is provided a target change control unit that selects one language that can be selected as the second language in the order of increasing the number of times of printing counted by the above-described method.

  When the second language selection unit changes the selection target as the second language, the printing apparatus can select the second language in the order of the number of printings counted by the counting unit. The language is a selection target related to the second language. That is, when the selection target is changed, the frequently used language is sequentially set as the selection target related to the second language, so that the printing apparatus can improve the convenience of the user when selecting the second language.

  Further, the printing device according to claim 5 is the printing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a message relating to the default print data is expressed, and the language can be selected as the second language. Counting means for counting the number of times the predetermined print data has been printed by the printing means, and the second language selecting means is a language that can be selected as the second language based on a user operation. A setting means for setting one language currently selected as the second language as the second language, and selecting the one language selected as the second language based on the user's operation as the second language. A target changing means for changing to another language included in the possible languages, and when the selection target related to the second language is changed by the target changing means based on a user operation, the counting Counted by means The descending order of the number of prints, a selectable one language as the second language, and having the target change control means for the selection of the second language, the.

  When the second language selection unit changes the selection target as the second language, the printing apparatus can select the second language in the order of the number of printings counted by the counting unit. The language is a selection target related to the second language. That is, when the selection target is changed, the frequently used language is sequentially set as the selection target related to the second language, so that the printing apparatus can improve the convenience of the user when selecting the second language.

It is a top view of the tape printer concerning this embodiment. It is a side view of a tape printer. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of a tape printer. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a default label data storage area. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a label content data storage area. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a printing frequency storage area. It is a flowchart of a main control program. It is a flowchart of a default label creation processing program. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a main body language selection screen. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the label language selection screen. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the label category selection screen. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the label preview screen. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the print menu screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the flow of preparation of a default label.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a printing apparatus according to the present invention is embodied in a tape printing apparatus 1 that performs printing on a tape discharged from a tape cassette will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of the tape printer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the tape printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a casing 5, and various components constituting the tape printing apparatus 1 are stored inside the casing 5. . A storage cover 6 is pivotally supported behind the upper surface of the housing 5 so as to be openable and closable. The storage cover 6 covers the upper portion of the cassette storage portion 20 formed inside the housing 5.

  A tape cassette C is detachably attached to the cassette storage unit 20. The tape cassette C stores a label tape L, which is a recording medium having heat-sensitive color development properties, in a wound state. Further, the cassette housing unit 20 is provided with a thermal head 25, a tape transport mechanism 27, and a tape cutting mechanism 29 (see FIG. 3). The thermal head 25 includes a plurality of heat generating elements arranged in a row, and performs printing based on print data (for example, default print data) on the label tape L by controlling energization of each heat generating element. The tape transport mechanism 27 has various rollers such as a platen roller and a transport motor. The tape transport mechanism 27 pulls out the label tape L from the tape cassette C and transports it to the outside of the housing 5. Then, the tape cutting mechanism 29 cuts the label tape L drawn from the tape cassette C at a predetermined position (near the inside of a label discharge port 7 described later).

  In the tape printer 1 according to this embodiment, the housing 5 is formed with a label discharge port 7, an adapter insertion port 8, and a connector 9. The label discharge port 7 is formed on the left side surface portion of the cassette storage unit 20. The printed label tape L is discharged from the label discharge port 7 to the outside of the housing 5. The adapter insertion port 8 and the connector 9 are formed on the right side surface portion of the cassette housing portion 20. A power adapter for supplying power to the tape printer 1 is attached to the adapter insertion port 8. A USB cable is attached to the connector 9, and the tape printer 1 and the computer device (see FIG. 3) are communicably connected.

  The tape printer 1 has a keyboard 10 on the front side portion of the upper surface of the housing 5. The keyboard 10 includes a plurality of input keys such as a character input key 11, a print key 12, a return key 13, a cursor key 14, a function key 15, and a default label key 16. The character input key 11 is input when creating text data that can include a plurality of characters. The print key 12 is input when printing data such as text data or default print data described later on the label tape L. The return key 13 is input when a line feed command, execution of various processes, or selection confirmation is commanded. The cursor key 14 is input when the cursor E (FIGS. 9 to 14 and the like) displayed on the liquid crystal display 30 is moved up and down and left and right. The function key 15 is input when selecting various functions in the tape printer 1, and is also input when setting a main body language to be described later. The default label key 16 is operated when creating a default label based on default label data described later. A control board 35 is disposed below the keyboard 10. A control circuit unit 40 to be described later is configured on the control board 35.

  The tape printer 1 has a liquid crystal display 30 in the rear portion of the keyboard 10 on the top surface of the housing 5. The liquid crystal display 30 can display characters related to a plurality of types of languages using display fonts stored in the display font data storage area 42A. Further, the liquid crystal display 30 can display a main body language selection screen 60 and the like to be described later.

  Next, the control system of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit section 40 includes a CPU 41, a CGROM 42, a ROM 43, an EEPROM 44, a RAM 45, an input / output I / F 46, a communication I / F 47, and the like.

  The CPU 41 is a central processing unit that plays a central role in controlling the tape printer 1, and performs various calculations based on various control programs in the ROM 43. The CGROM 42 stores dot pattern data corresponding to each character, and has a display font data storage area 42A. Each character is displayed on the liquid crystal display 30 based on the dot pattern data read from the CGROM 42.

  The display font data storage area 42 </ b> A is a storage area for storing display font data used when displaying characters (characters, symbols) on the liquid crystal display 30. The display font data storage area 42A stores display font data for each language type (for example, English, French, German, Spanish, etc.) that can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 30. Accordingly, the display font data for the German language includes display font data for special characters such as umlauts and eszettes, and the spanish language includes display font data for special characters such as Enje. The language type composing the display font data matches the language type that can be selected as a main body language, which will be described later, and when set as the main body language, the character input by operating the keyboard 10, It is used for explanation display regarding various functions (for example, item display on the main body language selection screen 60 and the print menu screen 80).

  The ROM 43 is a memory for storing various control programs, and stores a main control program (see FIG. 7), which will be described later, and a default label creation processing program (see FIG. 8).

  The EEPROM 44 is a memory that can retain the stored contents even when the tape printer 1 is turned off. The EEPROM 44 has a predetermined label data storage area 44A, a label content data storage area 44B, and a print count storage area 44C. ing.

  The default label data storage area 44A is a storage area for storing a plurality of default label data as print data. Unlike the print data input by the user using the character input key 11 or the like, the predetermined label data is configured by image data indicating a predetermined design generated by the data provider as shown in FIG. Editing is prohibited. The default label data includes a message expressed in one language as an image. Therefore, if the predetermined label data is a printing target, the tape printer 1 can print the image indicated by the predetermined label data on the label tape L.

  In the default label data storage area 44A, each default label data is stored in association with one category and one language type. The category indicates a usage environment estimated from an image based on the predetermined label data, and is classified and associated with a plurality of types of categories (for example, Files, Office Signage, etc.). For example, as shown in FIG. 4, since “default label (1)” has an image of “requesting quick response”, it is associated with “category: Files” and “default label (A)”. Is associated with “Category: Office Signage” because it has an image of “Must be quiet”.

  One language type indicates a language type used for expressing a message included in the image of the default label data, and indicates one language that can be selected as a “label language” to be described later. Here, the message related to the default label data is not limited to the language type stored in the display font data storage area 42A, and may be expressed in a language type for which display font data does not exist. As described above, because the default label data is image data, it can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 30 as an image and printed on the label tape L without using a display font or the like.

  In the default label data storage area 44A, each default label data is associated with one default label type. The “default label type” indicates the type according to the meaning grasped from the entire default label data (including the message included in the default label data), and has the same meaning regardless of the language type expressing the message. Are the same default label types. For example, the default label type of “default label (2)” indicates the language in which the message is expressed (that is, the label language) if the meaning indicated by the default label data is “requesting return after signature”. Are associated with each other.

  The label content data storage area 44B is a storage area in which label content data is classified and stored for each predetermined label type described above. As shown in FIG. 5, each label content data means the content of each default label data, and is in the language stored in the display font data storage area 42A (ie, one language that can be set as the main body language). Expressed text data. For example, each label content data classified into the default label type “default label (1)” is set to “default label (1)” in one language (English, Spanish, French, etc.) that can be set as the main language. The text data expresses a corresponding meaning of “requesting quick response”. The label content data is used when a content text display area 76 of a label preview screen 75 described later is displayed (see FIG. 12).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the print count storage area 44 </ b> C is a storage area for storing the print count for each “label language”. As will be described later, every time printing is performed on the label tape L based on the default label data, the tape printer 1 updates the number of times the label language related to the default label data is printed (S21). The stored contents of the print count storage area 44C are referred to when a label language selection screen display process (S11) described later is executed.

  The RAM 45 is a memory that temporarily stores various calculation results calculated by the CPU 41, and includes various memory areas such as a print buffer 45A, a display image buffer 45B, and a work area 45C. The print buffer 45A stores printing dot patterns such as a plurality of characters and symbols, the number of applied pulses that are the amount of energy for forming each dot, and the like as data. The display image buffer 45B stores graphic data displayed on the liquid crystal display 30, print image data, and the like.

  The input / output I / F 46 is connected to the keyboard 10, the liquid crystal display controller 50, the head drive circuit 51, the transport drive circuit 53, and the cutting drive circuit 55. The liquid crystal display controller 50 has a video RAM for outputting display data to the liquid crystal display 30 and controls the display mode of the liquid crystal display 30. The head drive circuit 51 drives and controls the thermal head 25 when printing on the label tape L. The transport drive circuit 53 drives and controls the tape transport mechanism 27 when transporting the label tape L. The cutting drive circuit 55 drives and controls the tape cutting mechanism 29 when cutting the label tape L.

  The communication I / F 47 is composed of, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) or the like, and includes a connector 9. When the tape printer 1 is connected to an external computer device via a connector 9 and a communication I / F 47 with a USB cable or the like, bidirectional data communication can be performed between the two.

  Next, the main control program of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, when the execution of the main control program is started, the CPU 41 first determines whether or not the function key 15 has been input (S1). When there is an input from the function key 15 (S1: YES), the CPU 41 shifts the process to S2. When the function key 15 has not been input (S1: NO), the CPU 41 proceeds to S8.

  In S2, the CPU 41 executes a setting item selection process. In the setting item selection process (S2), the CPU 41 displays a setting item selection screen (not shown) on which each setting item (including “setting item: main body language” described later) that can be set in the tape printer 1 can be selected. It is displayed on the liquid crystal display 30 and accepts selection of one setting item by the user's operation. When one setting item is selected, the CPU 41 proceeds to S3.

  In S3, the CPU 41 determines whether or not “setting item: body language” has been selected in the setting item selection process (S2). Here, the “main body language” refers to one language used for text display on the liquid crystal display 30 of the tape printer 1 and is a language used for names of various function items and input contents. When “setting item: body language” is selected (S3: YES), the CPU 41 shifts the process to S4. When another setting item (for example, “setting item: print quality” or the like) is selected (S3: NO), the CPU 41 proceeds to S7.

  After shifting to S4, the CPU 41 executes a main body language selection process. In the main body language selection process (S4), the CPU 41 can handle a plurality of display font data stored in the display font data storage area 42A based on the selection of “setting item: main body language”. The process of selecting one language as the main language from the other languages (that is, the language capable of displaying text on the liquid crystal display 30) is executed. Specifically, the CPU 41 first displays the main body language selection screen 60 on the liquid crystal display 30 (see FIGS. 9 and 14A). The main body language selection screen 60 displays a list of language types (for example, English, French, Spanish, etc.) that can be selected as the main body language. A cursor E is displayed on the main body language selection screen 60. Therefore, the user operates the cursor key 14 to select one language from the language types displayed in the list on the main body language selection screen 60 with the cursor E and confirm by pressing the return key 13. A desired language is selected as the main language (ie, “first language”). When the main body language selection process ends, the CPU 41 shifts the process to S5.

  In S5, the CPU 41 executes a main body language setting process. In the body language setting process (S5), the CPU 41 sets the language selected in the body language selection process (S4) as the body language. By setting the selected one language as the main body language, the CPU 41 changes the text display on the liquid crystal display 30 to an expression based on the selected language. When the main body language setting process (S5) ends, the CPU 41 shifts the process to S6.

  In S6, the CPU 41 executes an initial label language change process. In the initial label language change process (S6), the CPU 41 changes the language selected by the cursor E as the initial selection target to the main body language in the main body language setting process when shifting to a label language selection screen display process (S11) described later. Set to “Set language”. When the initial label language change process (S6) ends, the CPU 41 ends the main control program.

  After shifting to S7, the CPU 41 executes other setting processes. In the other setting process (S7), the CPU 41 executes a setting process related to the setting item selected in the setting item selection process (S2). For example, when “print quality” is selected in the setting item selection process (S2), the CPU 41 executes a setting process related to the print quality in the other setting process (S7). When the other setting process is completed, the CPU 41 ends the main control program.

  In S8, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the default label key 16 has been input. When the default label key 16 is input (S8: YES), the CPU 41 proceeds to S9. On the other hand, if the default label key 16 has not been input (S8: NO), the CPU 41 proceeds to S10.

  In S9, the CPU 41 executes a default label creation process. In the default label creation process (S9), the CPU 41 executes the default label creation process program and prints on the label tape L based on the default label data stored in the default label data storage area 44A. When the default label creation process (S9) is terminated, the CPU 41 terminates the main control program. Details of the default label creation processing (S9) will be described later with reference to the drawings.

  After shifting to S10, the CPU 41 executes other processing. In other processing (S10), the CPU 41 executes text input processing based on the input of the character input key 11, text editing processing, and the like. When the other process (S10) ends, the CPU 41 ends the main control program.

  Next, the default label creation processing program executed in the default label creation processing (S9) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. After shifting to the default label creation process (S9), the CPU 41 executes a label language selection screen display process (S11). In the label language selection screen display process (S11), the CPU 41 displays the label language selection screen 65 on the liquid crystal display 30 based on the label language type of the default label data stored in the default label data storage area 44A. Here, the “label language” indicates one language used for expressing a message included in the image of the default label data, and the user who takes into account the destination of the message regarding the label creation based on the default label data. Means the desired language. After displaying the label language selection screen 65 on the liquid crystal display 30, the CPU 41 proceeds to S12.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the label language selection screen 65 displays a list of language types (for example, English, French, Spanish, etc.) that can be selected as the label language based on the label language type of the default label data. doing. A cursor E is displayed on the label language selection screen 65. The cursor E is displayed at the position of the language set in the main body language in the main body language setting process (S5) by the initial label language change process (S6) described above, and the language set in the main body language as an initial state. Is selected as the label language. For example, when the main body language is set to “English”, as shown in FIG. 10A, the cursor E is displayed with “English” selected as the label language as an initial state. When the main language is set to “Spanish”, as shown in FIG. 10B, the cursor E is displayed with “Spanish” selected as the label language as an initial state.

  In the list display on the label language selection screen 65, languages that can be set as the label language are displayed side by side in descending order of the number of printings in the printing number storage area 44C. For example, when the stored contents of the print count storage area 44C are the contents shown in FIG. 6 and the English print count is the maximum value, the mode shown in FIG. The list of the label language selection screen 65 is displayed in the order of “word” “French”. When the number of times of printing is the same, the same number of languages are arranged in alphabetical order from the top with the initial of the language notation as a target.

  In S12, the CPU 41 executes a label language selection process. In the label language selection process (S12), the user operates the cursor key 14 to select one language with the cursor E from the list display on the label language selection screen 65, and presses the return key 13 The user-desired language is selected as the label language. When one language is selected as the label language by the label language selection process (S12), the CPU 41 proceeds to S13.

  In S13, the CPU 41 executes a label category selection process. In the label category selection process (S13), the CPU 41 displays a label category selection screen 70 on the liquid crystal display 30, and accepts selection of a label category desired by the user. As shown in FIG. 11, the label category selection screen 70 has a category list display based on the category of the default label data in the default label data storage area 44A. In addition, the description of each category is expressed based on the language set as the main language. For example, if the main body language is “English”, as shown in FIG. 11A, each category notation is expressed in English, and if the main body language is “French”, as shown in FIG. Each category is written in French. On the label category selection screen 70, a cursor E is displayed. Therefore, the user operates the cursor key 14 to select one category from the categories displayed in the list on the label category selection screen 70 with the cursor E, and confirms the category by pressing the return key 13. Select. When the label category selection process ends, the CPU 41 proceeds to S14.

  After shifting to S14, the CPU 41 executes target label preview display processing. In the target label preview display process (S14), the CPU 41 displays the label preview screen 75 on the liquid crystal display 30, and gives the user an explanation of the image of the default label data selected as the selection target and the contents of the image. Inform. After displaying the label preview screen 75 by the target label preview display process (S14), the CPU 41 proceeds to S15.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the label preview screen 75 has a content text display area 76 and a label image display area 77. The label image display area 77 is one default label included in the default label data group specified by the label language selected in the label language selection process (S12) and the label category selected in the label category selection process (S13). A preview image of the print result based on the data is displayed. In the label image display area 77, the preview image is scrolled and the entire image based on the predetermined label data is displayed. The content text display area 76 has the same default label type as the default label data previewed in the label image display area 77 and is based on the label content data corresponding to the language set as the main body language. Then, a text representing the contents of the default label data displayed in the preview in the main body language is displayed. In the content text display area 76, when the number of characters in the label content data is a predetermined number or more, scroll display is performed and the entire text based on the label content data is displayed.

  For example, when “French” is set as the label language and “Files” is selected as the category, one default label data including a message associated with the category “Files” and expressed in “French” ( A preview image based on the default label type: default label (1) is displayed in the label image display area 77 (see FIG. 12A). At this time, if “main body language: English” is set in the content text display area 76, the label contents associated with the “default label type: default label (1)” and “main body language: English”. Based on the data, the text expressed in English of the content expressed by “default label type: default label (1)” (that is, prompt response is requested) is displayed in the content text display area 76 ( (See FIG. 12A).

  Also, when “English” is set as the label language and “Files” is selected as the category, one default label data including a message associated with the category “Files” and expressed in “English” ( A preview image based on the default label type (default label (1)) is displayed in the label image display area 77 (see FIG. 12B). At this time, if “main body language: German” is set in the content text display area 76, it is associated with the “default language type: default label (1)” and “main body language: German”. Based on the label content data, text representing the content expressed in “default label type: default label (1)” (that is, prompting a quick response) in German is displayed in the content text display area 76. (See FIG. 12B).

  As described above, since the default label data is image data, in the label image display area 77, a message included in the default label data even if the language is not in the display font data storage area 42A. Can be displayed. Therefore, the tape printer 1 can display a preview image including a message for another language area in the label image display area 77. At this time, in the content text display area 76, a text expressing the content of the predetermined label data based on the main body language is displayed. In general, since the user can grasp the contents of the main body language, the user can grasp the meaning of the default label data displayed in the label image display area 77 based on the display in the contents text display area 76. it can. As a result, the tape printing apparatus 1 can provide an opportunity to confirm whether or not the user's intention is surely reflected even when the label tape L intended for other languages is created.

  In S15, the CPU 41 determines whether or not a confirmation operation has been performed by the user. Here, the confirmation operation is an operation for confirming the default label data displayed on the label preview screen 75 as a printing target on the label tape L, and is performed by inputting the return key 13. When the confirming operation is performed (S15: YES), the CPU 41 sets the default label data currently used for displaying the label preview screen 75 as a print target, and proceeds to S18. On the other hand, when the confirmation operation has not been performed (S15: NO), the CPU 41 proceeds to S16.

  In S16, the CPU 41 determines whether or not a selection change operation has been performed. The selection change operation means that the default label data currently selected for printing is changed from the default label data used for display of the label preview screen 75 to the default label data, “label language”, and “label category”. This is an operation for changing to the same other default label data, and is performed by the input of the cursor key 14. When the selection change operation has been performed (S16: YES), the CPU 41 proceeds to S17. On the other hand, when the selection change operation has not been performed (S16: NO), the CPU 41 returns the process to S14.

  After shifting to S17, the CPU 41 executes a selection target change process. In the selection target change process (S17), the CPU 41 changes the default label data selected as the print target to other default label data based on the selection change operation. At this time, the other default label data is selected from those associated with the same label language and the same label category as the default label data before the change. After selecting new default label data as a print target, the CPU 41 returns the process to S14.

  At this time, in S <b> 14, the CPU 41 displays a label preview screen 75 on the liquid crystal display 30 based on the default label data newly selected as a printing target. For example, when a selection change operation is performed in a state where the label preview screen 75 shown in FIG. 12B is displayed, “label language: English” and “label language: Files” are displayed in the label image display area 77. An image based on the default label data relating to the same “default label (2)” is displayed as a preview. At this time, in the content text display area 76, the content of the “predetermined label (2)” (that is, a request for return after signature) is based on the label content data expressed in German as the main language. The text is displayed.

  In S18, the CPU 41 executes a print menu selection process. In the print menu selection process (S18), the CPU 41 first displays the print menu screen 80 on the liquid crystal display 30. As shown in FIG. 13, the print menu screen 80 includes a cursor E along with a list of print items such as “print” and “cancel”. Here, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, each print item is displayed in an expression based on the main body language set in the main body language setting process (S5). FIG. 13A shows the case of “main body language: English”, and FIG. 13B shows the case of “main body language: German”. The user operates the cursor key 14 to select one print item from the print items displayed in a list on the print menu screen 80 with the cursor E, and confirms it by pressing the return key 13. When the print menu selection process ends, the CPU 41 proceeds to S19.

  In S19, the CPU 41 determines whether or not a printing operation has been performed. The print operation is performed by selecting “print item: print” with the cursor E and confirming the selection. If a printing operation has been performed (S19: YES), the CPU 41 proceeds to S20. When the printing operation is not performed (S19: NO), the CPU 41 ends the default label creation processing program.

  After shifting to S20, the CPU 41 executes a default label printing process. In the default label printing process (S20), the CPU 41 performs printing on the label tape L based on the default label data determined as a print target by the determination operation (see FIG. 14F). When the default label printing process (S20) ends, the CPU 41 proceeds to S21.

  In S <b> 21, the CPU 41 executes the print count update process in accordance with the execution of the default label print process. Specifically, the CPU 41 updates the number of prints stored in the print number storage area 44C for the label language corresponding to the default label data printed by the default label printing process. When the print count update process (S21) is completed, the CPU 41 ends the default label creation process program.

  Next, the flow of creating a print label based on the default label data in the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the user uses English as a native language and cannot understand German. Further, it is assumed that the user desires to create a label that expresses “to request a quick response” in German.

  As described above, since the user in this case uses English as the native language, in the body language selection process (S4), the user operates the cursor E on the body language selection screen 60 and selects “English” as the body language. (See FIG. 14A). As a result, the tape printer 1 performs text display on the label language selection screen 65, the label category selection screen 70, the label preview screen 75, and the like according to English as the main body language.

  Then, the user inputs the default label key 16 to create a label based on the default label data (S8: YES). When the process proceeds to the default label creation process (S9) by the input of the default label key 16, a label language selection screen 65 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 30 (S11). As described above, since the user intends to create a label in which a predetermined message is expressed in German, the user operates the cursor E in the label language selection screen 65 in S12 to set “German” as the label language. "Is selected (see FIG. 14B).

  When “German” is selected as the label language, a label category selection screen 70 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 30 (S13). In the label category selection screen 70, each label category is displayed according to English as the main body language. Therefore, the user can specify a label category including “requesting quick response”. By operating the cursor E in the label category selection screen 70, the user selects a desired label category “Files” (see FIG. 14C).

  When the label category “Files” desired by the user is selected, a label preview screen 75 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 30 (S14). In the label preview screen 75, a preview image of default label data associated with “label language: German” and “category: Files” is displayed in the label image display area 77. Further, in the content text display area 76, the meaning content of the preview image related to the default label data displayed in the label image display area 77 is displayed in text according to “English” as the main body language. Therefore, even if the user cannot grasp the contents of the German language, the user can check whether the currently selected default label data has the desired contents by checking the text display in the contents text display area 76. Can be determined. Then, when the label preview screen 75 shown in FIG. 14D is displayed on the liquid crystal display 30, “to request a quick response” is displayed in the native text English in the content text display area 76. The user can surely grasp that the current selection target is the predetermined label data desired by the user.

  When the selection of the predetermined label data desired by the user is confirmed, the print menu screen 80 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 30 (S18). As shown in FIG. 14E, the print menu screen 80 is displayed according to the English set as the main language. The user can acquire the label tape L that has been printed based on the desired default label data by performing a printing operation on the print menu screen 80 (see FIG. 14F).

  As described above, the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment selects a label language (that is, the second language) when performing printing based on default label data including a message expressed in a predetermined language. After that, the category is designated and the label preview screen 75 is displayed. Here, on the label preview screen 75, a preview image based on one predetermined label data belonging to the label language and the label category designated by the user is displayed in the label image display area 77. In the label preview screen 75, in the content text display area 76, text indicating the content of the preview image displayed in the label image display area 77 is displayed according to the main body language (first language) set by the user. Is done. The body language is a language that can be grasped by the user because it is a language used for various text displays such as function display in the tape printer 1. Therefore, according to the tape printer 1, even when the message displayed in the label language and the meaning indicated by the preview image cannot be grasped by the display in the label image display area 77, the text display in the content text display area 76 is visually recognized. Then, it is possible to grasp the content indicated by the image related to the predetermined label data. Therefore, the tape printer 1 can reduce the burden on the user when creating a printed product (for example, see FIG. 14F) based on the predetermined label data, and reliably provides a desired printing result. Can do.

  Further, the default print data according to the present embodiment is configured by image data. Therefore, the message included in the default print data may be a language that cannot display text based on the display font data. That is, the tape printing apparatus 1 can include messages expressed in various languages including languages incapable of displaying text based on font data in the default label data, and can label labels intended for more diverse language areas. Can be created.

  In the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment, when the label language is selected by the default label creation processing program, the language set as the main body language is set as the label language as the initial state. As described above, the main body language is generally a language that is commonly used by the user, so that the work load related to the selection of the label language in the normal time can be reduced.

  In the tape printer 1, the list display on the label language selection screen 65 is displayed in descending order of the number of times of printing for each label language. Therefore, it becomes easy to select a frequently used label language, and the burden on the user when selecting the label language can be reduced.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the tape printing apparatus 1 uses a label tape as a recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect, and the type of the recording medium is not limited.

1 Tape Printer 25 Thermal Head 30 Liquid Crystal Display 41 CPU
42A Display font data storage area 43 ROM
44 EEPROM
44A Default label data storage area 44B Label content data storage area 44C Print count storage area 75 Label preview screen 76 Contents text display area 77 Label image display area

Claims (5)

Printing means for printing on a recording medium;
A display device capable of displaying a plurality of types of languages,
A default print data storage means for storing a plurality of default print data including a message expressed in one language in an uneditable manner for each language;
Content data storage means for storing content data expressing the content indicated by the image based on the default print data in the language in association with the content of the image for each of the plurality of types of languages;
A first language selection means for selecting and setting, as a first language, one language used for display of the display means from the plurality of types of languages;
A second language selection unit that selects and sets one language used for expressing a message included in the default print data as a second language when selecting the default print data as a print target by the printing unit;
When the second language is selected by the second language selection means, it corresponds to the image based on the default print data including the message expressed in the second language that cannot be edited and the content of the image based on the default print data Display control means for displaying on the display means a preview screen including content display based on the content data expressed in the first language selected by the first language selection means,
A printing apparatus comprising: selection means for selecting default print data relating to the preview screen as a print target by the printing means when the preview screen is displayed on the display means. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The default print data is
A printing apparatus comprising image data including a message expressed in one language in an uneditable manner. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The second language selection means includes
A setting unit configured to set, as the second language, one language that is currently selected from among languages that can be selected as the second language based on a user operation;
Subject change means for changing one language selected as the selection target to another language included in the language that can be selected as the second language based on a user operation;
Selection control means for selecting the first language selected by the first language selection means as a selection target related to the second language when the second language selection means starts the selection of the second language; A printing apparatus characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to claim 3,
A counting unit that expresses a message related to the default print data and counts the number of times the default print data is printed by the printing unit for each language that can be selected as the second language;
When changing the selection target related to the second language based on the user's operation by the target changing means, the one that can be selected as the second language in descending order of the number of printings counted by the counting means. And a target change control unit that selects a language as a selection target related to the second language. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
A counting unit that expresses a message related to the default print data and counts the number of times the default print data is printed by the printing unit for each language that can be selected as the second language;
The second language selection means includes
A setting unit configured to set, as the second language, one language that is currently selected from among languages that can be selected as the second language based on a user operation;
Subject change means for changing one language selected as the selection target to another language included in the language that can be selected as the second language based on a user operation;
When changing the selection target related to the second language based on the user's operation by the target changing means, the one that can be selected as the second language in descending order of the number of printings counted by the counting means. And a target change control unit that selects a language as a selection target related to the second language.

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